Wake Forest-UC Santa Barbara men's semifinal preview

• by Soccer America , Nov 30, 2006

After previewing the North Carolina-UCLA and Notre Dame-Florida State games in Friday's Women's College Cup semifinals, Soccer America turns to the Men's College Cup with Friday's Wake Forest-UC Santa Barbara game in St. Louis. The Demon Deacons are making their College Cup debut two years after UCSB make its first appearance in the final four. Both teams make up for what they lack in a go-to striker with deep benches. Here's a look at the probables with their 2006 stats (G-A-P).

WAKE FOREST (18-3-3)


GOALKEEPER
1 BRIAN EDWARDS (Jr., Charlotte, N.C.) 0.75 GAA
Holds Wake career record with 31 shutouts.

DEFENDERS
4 JULIAN VALENTIN (Jr., Lancaster, Pa.) 4-1-9
One of top young U.S. prospects at center back.
5 PAT PHELAN (Jr., Enfield, Conn.) 0-1-1
Represented USA at 2005 World Youth Championship.
18 EVAN BROWN (Soph., Raleigh, N.C.) 0-1-1
Attack-minded right back won starting job in midseason.
30 LYLE ADAMS (Soph., Orlando, Fla.) 4-0-8
Has started all but one game at left back.

MIDFIELDERS
2 SAM CRONIN (Soph., Winston-Salem, N.C.) 4-4-12
Local product has had a big postseason.
9 WELLS THOMPSON (Sr., Winston-Salem, N.C.) 7-3-17
Matched '05 goal total to lead Demon Deacons.
11 JAMIE FRANKS (Soph., Medford, N.J.) 0-4-4
Right-sided midfielder is excellent distributor of the ball.
14 RYAN SOLLE (Sr., Broadway, N.C.) 5-4-14
Playmaker was suspended for first two postseason games.

FORWARDS
3 MARCUS TRACY (Soph., Newton, Conn.) 6-4-16
Scored two goals and two assists in NCAA Tournament opener.
13 MICHAEL LAHOUD (Soph., Reston, Va.) 3-6-12
Scored game-winning goal in quarterfinals against Santa Clara.

KEY RESERVES
Steven Curfman (Sr., Raleigh, N.C.) leads Wake with 20 points (six goals and eight assists) and has scored two goals off set pieces in postseason. Zack Schilawski (Fr., Cary, N.C.) has three goals in the postseason. Cody Arnoux (Fr., Wilmington, N.C.) scored game-winner at Virginia in late October. Austin da Luz (Fr., Winston-Salem, N.C.), son of WFU women's coach Tony da Luz, was all-ACC freshman pick.

UC SANTA BARBARA (16-7-0)


GOALKEEPER
1 KYLE REYNISH (Sr., Valencia, Calif.) 0.90 GAA
Came on strong late in regular season with five shutouts in last six games.

DEFENDERS
4 ANDY IRO (Jr., England) 1-1-3
Two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Year is a monster.
6 GREG CURRY (Jr., Sacramento, Calif.) 0-0-0
Only had seven starts in the regular season.
17 BRENNAN TENNELLE (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) 1-2-4
Won starting job in 2006 after limited action in first two seasons.

MIDFIELDERS
3 DAVID WALKER (Fr., Orange, Calif.) 1-1-3
First collegiate goal was game-winner against SMU.
10 TYLER ROSENLUND (Jr., Canada) 4-3-11
MLS prospect had a big freshman year but injuries in '05 et him back.
12 ERIC FRIMPONG (Sr., Ghana) 2-1-5
Had huge game marking Bruno Guarda in upset win over SMU.
13 CHRIS PONTIUS (Soph., Yorba Linda, Calif.) 1-2-4
Ranks third among Gaucho field players with 20 starts.
15 ERIC AVILA (Soph., San Diego, Calif.) 7-5-19
One of the most exciting American collegians.

FORWARDS
7 BRIAN BYRNE (Sr., Ireland) 3-9-15
Came into his own during run to '04 College Cup final.
14 NICK PERERA (Soph., Spain) 6-3-15
Scored early in wins over SMU and ODU.

KEY RESERVES
Jeff Murphy (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) started 19 games in the back during the regular season. Bongomin Otii (Fr., Denver) scored five goals in first five games but has had only one since then. Alfonso Motagalvan (Soph., Gilroy, Calif.) has come off bench in all four NCAA Tournament games. Jon Curry (Fr., Sacramento, Calif.) came on for ailing Brennan Temmelle to have big game against Northwestern. Andrew Proctor (Jr., Canada) played big rule in '04 run. Tino Nunez (Jr., Long Beach, Calif.) and Evan Patterson (Jr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) are both JC transfers. Duke transfer Kyle Kaveny (Jr., Cupertino, Calif.) is also part of deep bench.